Getting the pack weight down

“I'm slowly making progress on getting my pack weight down. I'm no ultralighter (Sierra Designs Clip flashlight is what I use now), but for good extended good weather hiking I was at about 24 pounds without food and water (about 31 pounds with 2 days foor and two liters of water).

I'm hoping to pick up one or two lightweight gear deals to replace heavier stuff (esp. my 6' 10" backpack.

Is anybody really happy with some lightweight gear they've been using? Have you made an update/substitution that you're worked out really well?”

“I?ve abandoned my Safe Water Anywhere filter/bottle. It puked on my this passed weekend. It would filter but it was very hard. I?m going back to my Sweetwater for winter and may try the SWA in-line filter next summer.

The switch to the Esbit stove has been the greatest thing I?ve done in years. I?ve used one since early March and love it. With cold weather coming I?ll probably switch back to the Zipp Stove.

I take that back, my jungle hammock is the best switch I?ve ever made! Best night of sleep I?ve ever had on the trail.

The sil-tarp worked out super too. 13 oz and it packs down to the size of a grapefruit.”

“My pack weighs 30-40 pound when I went to New Mexico, but that is because the summer temperatures are from 30-90 degrees. So I can't offer any real help except that is you are caring a winter jacket, dump it. Just use your rain jacket and a heavy sweeter. (Much lighter and you have multiple uses)”

“i like my new beercan stove better than my esbit.”

“I am replacing my tent with a hammock.

Gonna get an Esbit stove.

I hope I never quite get my equipment the way I want it. It gives me something to work at and dream about.”

“Best piece of gear for me has been my Hennessey Hammock, what a great nights sleep and it weights less then the tent and pad setup I was using.

Also I'm very happy with my traingia 28 stove, great fool proof stove and light weight to boot.

As you may or may not know, first look at your 3 heaviest items, tent, sleepingbag and backpack. That is where I shaved most of my pack weight.”

“RAD: 2 questions:
What kinda beer (can)?
Do beer cans work better that Dr. Pepper and Moxie cans?

Larock: Sleeping bag and backpack are two things I'd like to replace if I can afford 'em and try on the backpack. I got a Marmot Arroyo for my son and it seems like a good balance of weight, comfort and price (when on sale).

Anyone have any recommendations for sleeping bags and Backpacks (Feathered Friend seem fantastic for sleeping bags, but cost way too much).”

“Both are outrageously priced new, but you can find great deals around that bring the price down to cringing levels at least.

Bags: Nigal said it best when he said the best 15d bag is a 0d bag.

Packs: Try them all on with weight in them for longer than 10 min. That will help you feel where they pinch, slide, chafe(sp?).”

“I love my Alcohol stove, it boils water fast, light weight, and esbit stoves arn't worth dirt, they are heavy, slow to get a boil, and they don't last long.

You could ditch the tent, sleeping bag. Use a realy cheap hammock, bye a ultra thin tarp from the painting section in a local hard ware store, then just rap your self in a emergensy blanket.

For the alcohol stove stuff, DON'T go to home depo, go to a local hard ware store, because you can allways haggle down the price.”

“Ice,
So worldly of you. Why would you want to deprive an independant business guy/gal of a reasonable profit. Quite often they are working 60+ hour weeks to keep afloat. They don't take vacations because they can nary afford to pay their staff and they certainly can't shut down. When I was your age, hardware stores and lumber yards were CLOSED on Sundays. Now these big chains discount prices so low that the independants can't survive. Neither can the chains. They price themselves right out of business and alot of hardworking entrepeneurs. Where are Rickels, Hechingers, Builders Square ,etc?
Yeah, go to the small independant and give him/her your business. Do your Christmas shopping there. Okay, maybe some item will cost you a few extra pennies but you'll be able to by three bolts (and they'll ask if you need washers!) not a package of twelve.”

“The best way to reduce pack weight is to get someone else to carry it for you. Hubby take the tent, the food, the stove and pots. Al I have to do is ?reward? him when we get to camp. The secret is the reward is a reward for me too. They say men exploit women for sex, I say you is exploiting who?

Seriously, I think you need to decide what level of comfort (or discomfort) is acceptable and don?t take anything that does not serve that. You fellas already know this. This last summer we did some no cook trips. Saved some kitchen weight but the food weight went up. Despite the possibility of arduous weather, even snow, in Idaho I stated leaving the gore tex at home. Used my cycling rain gear in its place. Not much advice in this post, I am reading for some help myself.”

“Sorry, guess someone hit a nerve.”

“Well I do agree that we should all support the small business. However, learning how to haggle is also very important. In addition, once you can haggle at small business then try at big companies. It is lot of fun to. I think flyguy is either a small businessman or he just can haggle. Nevertheless, hay we all have weaknesses, mine, as we, all know is spelling. Lol”

“I'll second the vote on a Hennessey hammock, get the ultralight and lose the tent. I also secont the replacing of a standard stove with an alcohol stove.

Replace stuff sacks with sil/nylon stuff sacks, and replace pack cover with sil/nylon stuff sack - looks like it weighs less than a good tough plastic bag cover. I'm gonna get me some in the spring. Get a LED light to replace other lights - less than an ounce of weight. Replace nalgen bottles with lighter gatorade bottles - cheaper too.

Other than these suggestions I would have to know what you carry.

BTW I have got my own 3 season weight down to about 17 pounds base weight from about 40 pounds. I have a slightly older packing list on my site that is at about 19-20 pounds base.”

“So Mtn Gal, Does this meen your finally getting lucky on the trail these days. Congrats!”

“Ped:
Check out www.backpacking.net

This guy has a lot of ideas for reducing pack weight.”

“3/4 Ridgerest, pinnicle sleeping bag, or bivy, mystery ranch pack, primus micro, msr titatium, voyager purifier, is my set up for a week or more, forget a change of clothes, Ramon is a wonderful thing and so is instant oatmeal. I never tried the hammock, it looks interesting however most places I pack there are no trees.
Ice Tea, if you want to haggle go to mexico, big chains such as REI, HTO, and EMS are over priced, however there is a reason for this mark up. People like to be paided. Sure the small businesses can haggle the price down, just remember that "money not spent is money wasted" (Hobbes)”

“JesterTrail?!?
We haven't seen you in ages.
Been under an avalanche?”

“Dude- Oh ya! Oooh yaaa ooh ooh ooh yes yes yes ahhhh.”

“Mtn Gal, enough sound effects. We want pitchers, dammit!”

“Tommy,
I spent the summer on the trail, I'd still be out there if it were not for school.”

“LED flashlights with lithium batteries.

Alcohol stove

No redundant clothing.

dehydrated food
instant rice
instant potatos (sp?)

collapsible plastic water bottles

Share gear with others.
Tent, water filter, stove, pots etc.
This is the easiest way to limit weight.

Don't buy gear unless you need it.

...........”

“I once lined up my gear to see what I could leave behind or replace with something lighter. Didn?t reduce the weight much until I looked in the mirror in the room. It reminded me of something a cycling buddy had said. Cyclists can be the most fanatical weight savers. ?The cheapest way for most people to reduce the weight of their bike is to lose body weight?. Have you noticed how lean the professional racers are. I can reduce the weight I haul up the trail by ten pounds without changing a thing in my pack. You may not have any extra body fat to leave behind but if you do try losing it.”

“I'm with Mozark on the share gear thing and if you can swing it, bring someone along to carry it all. Together Mozark and mtngal have a winning formula.

I'm still just learning here, but I learned pretty quickly that I didn't need all the things I thought I did. And I LOVE to shop for gear so if I'm lucky there will always be something new and better out there.

flyguy-I think Ice Tea will understand your thinking a little better in about 20 years.”

“Well I have been spelling every thing correctly lately, and the grammar is near perfect, so what more can you ask of me? (Don't answer that) Hay the haggling was only a suggestion; I have fun tiring to save a few bucks. Ever try to haggle, it is a lot of fun and once you leave the store with the lowest price possible you will fell so proud of you self.

On cutting the weight, I dig the share the gear idea. I have try that and it works well, just make shore that who ever you are sharing with has the same respect to your gear as you have to it. Like for me I, can't trust my one of my friends with any gear, I now that he has no respect for money, and the gear.”

“ok, now go get me a beer.”

“tiring = trying”

“Rad, check your mail and you will find you'r beer.”

“fell = feel

Ice Tea - your friends should get better when they get into high school.LOL!”

“with nudie girls!!! alright!”

“I am a sophmore in High school, and many of my friends are my age or older.”

“Rad, did you get the beer mail.”

“Just kiddin dude. I have friends that I will not lend anything to.”

“I go as light as I can without getting carried away I have the Gossamer solo tent also, I really like my MSR Rapid fire stove how much easier an lighter could they come although you do need to put the fuel cans in the tent with you in cold weather it has never failed to light right away I'm not a big eater so I dont bring a lot of food with me my pack usually weighs around 25/30 lbs. 35 tops since I weigh around 115 that's a pretty good ratio i'm kinda short too 5'3 so my pack is a good bit smaller/lighter then a larger persons would be”

“How old are you CB? 13,14, 15, 16, other”

“LOL! I wish I were that young I'm getting kinda old I was 37 in July honestly I would never want to go through that age again!”

“15/16 etc. that is. My 30's have been great so far”

“Jeez, everytime I get my pack weight below the norm (31-33lbs) I figure "hey, I can take a few beers!" Or, "Wouldn't a can of pork and beans be nostalgic?" Or some other damn little toy I wouldn't normally bring.
Sigh.
It amazes me that no matter what I do, or think I am doing, my pack consistently weighs within the same 2lb range.”

“Ped: I'm glad to see your on the trail to a lighter pack. Here's some tips.

-Get a tarp (get the blue ones; they are dirt cheap, and very durable)

-If your looking for a sleeping bag, run over to target and see if you can find a Greatland Grand Canyon Ultralight. I got the last one at my store, since they are not carrying them anymore. I heard great reviews about it. Also check out the Slumberjack Tour Light, it's supposed to be good to.

-As of backpacks, go to REI, and get one of their oversized daypacks. On my backpack (Lowe Alpine Contour 40, 2250, 2,2) you can strap the tent poles to the outside.

If your looking for something a little bigger and lighter, check out the GoLite Breeze or the G4 pack.

-AAA maglite


Hope this helps!

www.cyberturf.com/tornado”

“Tornado hit a great point, get a smaller backpack, that way you won't be as likely to carry extra stuff just because you can.

Back in June I carried a REI Half Dome backpack loaded with a Slumberjack 40º Sleepingbag, Hennessy Hammock, Trangia 28, Nalagene Fuel Bottle (16 fluid ounce), Spoon, Aguafina Water Bottle, Safe Water Anywhere Bottle-Filter, Mini Bic, Wind Jacket, Wind Pants, Fleece Jacket, Fleece Hat (home made), Fleece Mittens (home made), Knife (little Swiss Army), 3? Duct tape, Needle, ½ pencil, Silva Compass, Map, Mini Mag AAA flashlight (w/Batteries, lanyard & whistle), AAA batteries (2), 1 qt. Ziplock bag (2), Toilet paper, Hand Sanitizer, Tooth Brush, Floss Soap, Chap Stick, 1st Aid Kit (home made). Total weight came in at 166.95 oz (10.4 pounds) before food water and fuel. I also still had room to fit a bear canister in it too.”

“i use the half dome as my regular pack. i love that thing!

hell, i'm using it for this weekend, too.”

“OK I forgot to say that I carried that on a week long trip in Yosemite. Good times.”

“Iced Tea,
Where in New Mexico did you go hiking? It wouldn't happen to be Philmont would it?

My personal gear is super light. I use all poly-pro clothes, which weigh next to nothing and our crew usually shares other gear. What really gets heavy is food. On my last trip to Philmont I ended up carrying a 65lb pack that was a good 50% food and fuel.”

“Leave the beer for the ride home...and just bring the smoke!”

“Take the big three--shelter, sleeping bag and pack. Shelter should be 2 pounds per person or less,bag should be less than 3 pounds unless you're in some really cold place and the pack should be less than 4 pounds.

I own a one pound pack, a tarp like Nigals and a down bag that is less than 2 pounds. I was out in bad weather last week and I had to take a 4 pound tent and extra clothes but even with that my pack weight was less than 20 pounds for three days including food and water.”

“Yeah great, but did you enjoy it?”

“Oh my yes I enjoyed it. I was in the Grand Canyon and the light and clouds were magnificent. I kept warm and read a good book. We hiked down in fluffy snow and hiked out on a bit of ice but it was not bad.”

“Where in the Canyon?
My pack usually comes in at about 25-35 lbs, depending on how much water I'm packing. I've found that even though I sometimes end up packing more then some, I'm always comfortable, and anyways how on earth can you hike in the canyon with out the climbing shoes, that is some of the best rock in the world.”

“Philmont was a great teacher about pack weight. In 1967, they outfitted our group with a cast iron frying pan. After the lucky fellow who drew it when divying up group gear managed to open up the top of his foot with an ax (yep, they issued those as backcountry gear then, too), there was considerable haggling over who took on the pan in our cotton canvas backpacks with no waist/hipbelts. We couldn't chuck it in the canyon we were scrambling down for final two days because we had to account for all issued gear. We suspected an ax in the foot was easier to endure than carrying that pan.

My preference since then has been for as few pots/pans as possible - a single large stainless cup (not a Sierra cup, too shallow, and I can't swallow the price of a titanium cup yet) works for one, especially if you like instant noodles/soups/oatmeal/Tang. By the way, in China you can get Tang in lichee flavor.”

“I have gone from 50 lb packs last year to a 13 lb pack this year. Its about taking the ABSOLUTE necessities and adding the luxuries you really want. Like a "crazy creek" chair, 1lb plus but worth every ounce come time to R&R.

I havent gotten as nutty as Nigals brother Darrell but I reckon that our philosophies are similar.”